Match-box.



PATENTED MAY'80, 1905.

A. E. SMITH.

MATCH BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.17, 1 04.

y M U 1 7 l 4 ,e n I 0 0 w w P UNITED STATES Patented May 30, 1905. A

PATENT OFFICE..

' MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,222, dated May 30, 1905 Application filed November 17, 190A. $erial No. 233,151.

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in match-boxes; and it relates more'particularly to that type of box which is designed to deliver but one match at a time. e

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which will be of an inex ensive construction and which will effectual y insure the delivery of a match at each operation and which will also effectually insure the revention of more than one match being de ivered with each operation. V f

Briefly described, the invention comprises a rece tacle or container that is preferably proyi ed with a hinged lid in order that the matches may be readily placed therein. Within the receptacle or container is a partition extending at an incline across the same and which to a certain extent forms a bottom upon which the matches rest and also to a certain extent acts as a slide down which the matches fall to be delivered. The box is provided in its front wall with a spring or hinged door which swings inwardly only, and this door carries arms which when the door is. forced inwardly enga e with angular ends formed on a rock-shaft that is j ournaled in the bottom of the receptacle or container.

charged, the door having entered the container past the location of the pocket contained in the false bottom, thus allowing free passage and delivery of a single match on a I tray provided on the extreme lower end of said partition-wall.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, wherein like reference characters designate views, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a matchbox constructed inaccordance with m invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertica sectional view thereof, taken on the line 00 cc of Fig. 1-. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 z of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a :lEi ke sectional view taken onthe line y y of The receptacle or container A comprises a back B, a top C, which is preferably hinged, a

tionary upper (part E and a swinging door F. The swinging oor Fforms a part of the front wall, and this swinging door is adapted to be swung inwardly of the container only. The outward movement of the swinging door may be limited by any desired means, preferably by employing a hinge G, which will ermit the door to swing inwardly, but will imitits outward movement, so as to arrest the same when it is in alinement with the stationary upper sectionE. On theistationary upper section E or at any other desired point may be provided a friction-surface H. In the receptacle or container and extending across the same at an incline or angle is a false bottom or partition J, which meets with and is secured to the back B, its lower edge extending through an opening in the bottom near the front and extending out beyond the front of the box or container and terminating in the match-receiving tray K. This partition or falsebottom J where it extends through curved to form a pocket, and this curved portion is provided with one or more slots L, in which work curved fingers M, that are secured upom a shaft N, journaled in the base D of the receptacle or container. This shaft bottom D, and a front wall comprising a sta-.

corresponding parts throughout the several the bottom of the receptacle or container is N has its ends 0 bent upwardly to. form arms which are adapted to be engaged by the angular ends P of armsR, carried by the door, when said door is swung inwardly of the box or container. In practice I have generally employed a rod or strip of material S, which I firmly affix to the front of the door F, as shown in Fig. 1, bending the ends down outside of the box or container to form arms R. I also generally shape this rod or strip as shown at T in order to indicate the proper position for exerting pressure against the door to move the same inwardly of the container.

In operation it will be observed that when pressure is exerted at point T on the door and the same is moved inwardly of the container the ends P will engage with arms 0, causing the rock-shaft N to be actuated and moving the arms M upwardly against the pile of matches and permitting the lowermost match to roll down over the curved face V of the arms M through the passageway, which now extends below the lower edge of the door, and out onto the tray K. The moment that ressure is relieved from the spring or hinged door by its own volition it'returns to its normal or closed position.

It will be noted that various changes will be made in the details of construction with out departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A container or receptacle having a partition terminating at its lower end in a match- 3 5 receiving tray lying beyond the front of the container, a swinging door forming a:part of the front wall of the container, a rock-shaft journaled in the bottom of the container and. having upwardly-extending arms, and arms carried by the swinging door to engage the arms of the rock-shaft, as and for the purpose described.

2. A match-box comprising a container having a partition forming a false bottom, and terminating at its lower end in a matchreceiving tray, a swinging door forming a part. of the front wall of the container, a rock-shaft journaled in the bottom of the container and having upwardly-extending arms, delivery-fingers carried by the rockshaft and operating in slots in the partition, and arms carried by the swinging door to engage the arms of the rock-shaft and actuate the delivery-fingers, substantially as described.

3. A match-box comprising a container having a partition provided near its lower end, a rock-shaft journaled in the base of the container and provided with delivery-fingers operating in the slots of the partition, a swinging door forming a part of the front wall of the container, and means carried by the door for operating the rock-shaft and thereby operating the delivery-fingers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

